Manning to be overpaid - Eli that is

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2009/08/06/2009-08-06_giants_make_eli_manning_nfls_highestpaid_player_but_hes_far_from_best_quarterbac.html

In such a tight economy, did the Giants really have to give him the agreed upon six-year, $97.5million extension (with $35million guaranteed), that added on to the $9.4 million he was already getting this season in the final year of his rookie deal, making his grand total $106.9 million over the next seven years? That covers quite a few PSL sales, you know. His annual average is $1.25 million more than his brother's and 50% more than Brady's $10 million.

It really comes down to this: That's the going rate, and the Giants had no desire to create ill will and stick him with the franchise tag next year. Was A-Rod, with no rings, worth a 10-year, $275 million extension from the Yankees? At least Manning was at his best on that final Super Bowl drive against the Patriots, although the way he played against the Eagles in the playoffs last season makes you wonder how he did it against New England.

We know he can handle the responsibility off the field of being the league's highest-paid player. But what about on the field? "Highest-paid player" now becomes part of his name. More will be expected of him. The pressure will be turned up. And he has to do without a true No. 1 receiver.

"You don't get more pressure than he already has in this market," Reese said. "He knows how to handle pressure and he's done it before. I don't expect to see anything different in his attitude and work ethic."

Manning could stay at No. 1 on the pay chart for a while considering all the top quarterbacks are locked into long-term deals. As long as Brady shows he's the same player post-knee surgery this season, the Patriots soon will want to extend/renegotiate his six-year, $60 million deal that runs through 2010. That contract is badly outdated considering Matt Cassel, who had been Brady's backup, turned his buddy's injury last year into a six-year, $63million deal with the Chiefs.



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